Enloe trial: Eyewitness testified defendant, victim did not have issues prior to shooting

A jury trial against Thomas Enloe is in Fifth Judicial District Court in Carlsbad. District Judge Jane Shuler-Gray presides the trial, which is expected to continue into the week of May 7,(Photo: DeJanay Booth/Current-Argus)Buy Photo

Two eyewitnesses testified Wednesday to hearing the gunshot that killed 22-year-old Trevor Eaton.

Timothy and Julie Roberson told jurors they were at a house party when Eaton was allegedly shot by Thomas Enloe on Nov. 26, 2016, at a home in the 7400 block of Conestoga Road in Carlsbad.

Enloe is being tried for first-degree murder, shooting at dwelling or occupied building and seven counts abuse of a child.

Timothy Roberson told jurors that there was no indication of a conflict between Enloe and Eaton prior to the shooting.

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Thomas Enloe sits awaiting trial to resume on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Enloe is charged and being tried for first degree murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Trevor Eaton.(Photo: DeJanay Booth/Current-Argus)

During a cross examination by defense attorney Jon Fredlund, Julie Roberson testified that she heard at least two shots the night of the incident, but could not identify the origin of the shots.

She confirmed that children were inside the home when the shots were fired.

A forensic pathologist with the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator testified that at least one of those shots fatally struck Eaton.

Lauren Dvorscak, who supervised the autopsy, said a bullet entered the left side of Eaton's face and exited near his right temple.

She testified the the victim's tongue was lacerated and Eaton had a fractured jaw and facial bones. Three "projectiles" were recovered from Eaton during the autopsy, Dvorscak told jurors.

Dvorscak testified that a number of wounds, or "stippling," were found on the left side of Eaton's head, indicating that the projectile passed through an object before it struck him.

Dvorscak said the cause of death was a gunshot wound, and manner of death homicide.

"He died as a result of someone else's actions on him," she said, giving jurors the medical definition of "homicide."

Presiding Judge Jane Shuler Gray notified the court that a juror had been removed from the trial Thursday. Gray said the removal was the result of the juror witnessing Enloe in his jail-issued uniform prior to the trial resuming that morning.

DeJanay Booth can be reached at 575-628-5546, dbooth@currentargus.com and @DeJanayBooth on Twitter.